March 2020 Ocean Pines Progress by Ocean Pines Progress

New golf clubhouse could still open in April, says Viola Lost in all the pervasive focus on the Corona virus and the Ocean Pines Association’s responses to government edicts to shutter operations is the fact that work has been continuing on the new golf clubhouse, with the possibility that the building will be completed and available for a soft opening in April. That, of course, depends on whether the contractor, Whayland Construction, continues to send crews to work on the project, General Manager John Viola said. ~Page 7

County officials pitch golf course irrigation Worcester County officials, during a town hall meeting on March 12, made a sales pitch for a proposal to begin using highly treated effluent to spray irrigate the Ocean Pines golf course. Officials underscored that no decisions have yet been made, but said $25,000 for a feasibility study is in the proposed Ocean Pines Water and Wastewater District budget. ~ Page 15

Yacht Club stays open for deliveries five days a week With mandated restaurant closings statewide because of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Ocean Pines Yacht Club has moved to delivery only, effective immediately, of food, beer and wine. Until further notice, the restaurant will be open for delivery each Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, from 4-8 p.m., and Saturday, from noon to 8 p.m. Calls to the Yacht Club may be made beginning a half hour before the delivery hours. ~Page 5

March 2020

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OPA battles Corona outbreak with partial facility closures Golf course remains open; Yacht Club offering free delivery of food, beer and wine; administration building, indoor pool, community center closed to membership By TOM STAUSS Publisher he week of March 15, 2020, and the weeks that follow, will be remembered as a time when Ocean Pines faced an unexpected calamity known as the Carona virus or Covid-19. The outbreak and government’s response to it closed down most of the facilities operated by the Ocean Pines Association to its membership. Nothing like this has ever happened in the 50-year history of Ocean Pines. Among the closures were the Sports Core indoor pool and all activities in the Community Center managed by the Parks and Recreation Department. By mid-week the Administration Building’s front desk operations were also closed, with property owners advised to drop off their assessments in a drop-box in the entrance foyer or pay by phone at 410-641-7717. There were exceptions. The golf course remained open, with flagsticks removed and carts and rakes wiped down frequently. While closed to sit-down dining, in conformance to a statewide ban announced by Governor Larry Hogan, the Yacht Club operated by the Matt Ortt Companies began offering free delivery of food and wine Wednesday through Sunday. No one knows how long the statewide closure of restaurants, fitness centers, spas and theaters will last. There have been some immediate casualties in the form of layoffs: hourly workers employed by the OPA such as lifeguards and attendants at the Sports Core indoor pool and wait and kitchen staff at the Yacht Club restaurant. The longer-term damage depends on when the moratorium on a wide swath of the state’s To Page 6

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Board considering deadline extension for assessment payments By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Board of Directors conducted a closed session after the open segment of a special meeting March 20 to discuss various options for providing relief to Ocean Pines Association members adversely affected financially by the Corona virus pandemic. Perhaps the most likely of the options is a property assessment extension beyond the May 1 due date, the Progress has learned. Currently, the policy is to assess penalties and interest on June 1 if a property owner hasn’t paid the assessment by then. The federal government has announced a threemonth extension of the federal income tax filing and payment deadline from April 15 to July 15. That was said to be the inspiration behind the idea to extend the assessment payment deadline in Ocean Pines. The federal government is also waiving interest and penalties for taxpayers who take advantage of the extension and file their returns and pay taxes owed by July 15. A three-month extension for payment of the OPA lot assessment would take the deadline from May To Page 6

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March 2020

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4 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

March 2020

COVER STORY

March 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Yacht Club restaurant moves to delivery only Management to donate tips to laid off hourly workers

ith mandated restaurant closings statewide because of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Ocean Pines Yacht Club has moved to delivery only, effective immediately, of food, beer and wine. Until further notice, the restaurant will be open for delivery each Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, from 4-8 p.m., and Saturday, from noon to 8 p.m. Calls to the Yacht Club may be made beginning a half hour before the delivery hours. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in mid-March issued an executive order to indefinitely close all bars

and restaurants in the state. The executive order, however, allows for restaurants to continue carryout, drive-through and delivery services. Yacht Club management staff will handle deliveries, which will be made available to Ocean Pines residents only. Orders may be made by calling 410-641-7501. Only credit card payments, over the phone, will be accepted. No cash will be handled. Additionally, all deliveries will be made with no delivery charges. Ralph DeAngelus, a founding partner in the Matt Ortt Companies, the Yacht Club managers, said

that on the first night of deliveries, March 18, the management team made 20 deliveries, 15 of which were the family dinners costing $40. Although there is no delivery fee, DeAngelus said many of the delivery customers are offering generous tips, which he said are being put into a pot that will be split among the laid-off kitchen and wait staff once they return to work. He said management had no choice but to lay off hourly workers because of the restaurant closure ordered by Governor Hogan. Food preparation and deliveries are being handled by the MOC

management team. Distributing tips earned by management is a way to help offset some of the losses incurred by the hourly workers, DeAngelus said. Ocean Pines General Manager John Viola said the Matt Ortt Companies, who runs the Ocean Pines Yacht Club, continues to offer a vital public service to the community. “We would like to compliment the Matt Ortt Companies on their resourcefulness and their service to Ocean Pines during this difficult time,” Viola said. “It’s our goal to keep doing what we can to serve the Ocean Pines community, to help keep families together and to keep them fed well,” DeAngelus, cofounder of the Matt Ortt Companies, said. The menu, which appears in an advertisement on Page 9, includes four appetizers, three sandwiches, five burgers, four entrees, and five rotating family meals.

Viola declines to release emergency organization chart Daly says there was no intent to marginalize Colby Phillips’s role in the event that the general manager is incapacitated

linowski might be a reason. Viola said the chart designates Steve Phillips, director of finance and logistical operations, and Michelle Bennett, senior executive assistant, as the two individuals who would lead the OPA in his absence, with Chief of Police Dave Massey having an autonomous role. While Viola declined to discuss the chart other than to confirm the top designees, the Progress has learned that the chart lists Director of Golf John Malinowki as the point person for amenities, apparently answerable to Steve Phillips. Colby Phillips appears in a box under Malinowski. Director Frank Daly told the Progress that he initially saw the chart in a board executive session March 7. That closed meeting was called for the specific purpose of discussing an amendment to Viola’s employment contract, with no mention of an emergency organizational chart as a second agenda item as required under Maryland law. Daly said he didn’t recall seeing Phillips in a box under Malinowksi, and that he didn’t get a good look at the document he believes was a draft of an emergency organizational chart. But he said there was discussion among the directors for why

Colby was not designated as the point person for amenities as her title might suggest. “In the event of Corona emergency with no GM in place, Colby might very well have to spend most of her time overseeing pool operations,” Daly said, “so that much made some sense to me.” He said he didn’t interpret the proposed structure in any way as marginalizing or disrespecting Colby Phillips. “If John Viola has some problem with Colby, I would know about it,” he said. But he added that if the emergency chart shows Phillips in a box under Malinowski, “that makes no sense and needs to be changed.” He said that if Viola is out of commission for any period of time, then a better alternative for the management of Ocean Pines might be the structure put in place by the board following the exit of former GM John Bailey a year ago, when Viola initially served in an interim role as acting GM and Steve Phillips and Colby Phillips oversaw separate parts of the OPA. That structure also gave the board of directors a role overseeing the activities of the management team.

team. “That structure worked out well,” Daly said. He said that he believes a majority of directors are very supportive of Colby Phillips’ role with the OPA and repeated that Viola has no interest in diminishing or marginalizing her role with the OPA. “He just appointed her to the task force that is working on a new strategic plan for Ocean Pines and another one that is working on procedures to govern how the New Capital Reserve will be used in the future,” he said. “That isn’t the actions of somebody who has a problem with Colby.” Viola, who did not attend the March 7 closed meeting of the board, told the Progress that he is mystified how the emergency chart could have been distributed at the March 7 meeting because he did not provide copies to the board until a few days later. “I checked with Michelle (Bennett) and she confirmed it didn’t go out to the directors until days later,” he said. In an email to the Progress, Horn said the publication had been misinformed about the emergency chart being passed around to the directors during the March 7 meeting. q

By TOM STAUSS Publisher n emergency organizational chart drafted for the purpose of managing the Ocean Pines Association in the event that General Manager John Viola is incapacitated by the Corona virus has raised some eyebrows because it could be construed as marginalizing the role of Colby Phillips, the OPA’s amenities and logistical operations director. As this edition of the Progress was going to press, Viola was in good health, not exhibiting any of the symptoms that could lead to a conspicuous void at the top of OPA management pyramid. Consequently the emergency chart, which differs from a revamped chart the board adopted several months ago, seems more like an academic exercise than a guide to how Ocean Pines will be run anytime soon. Viola told the Progress that “boxes” on the chart are subject to revision. Viola declined to release the chart to the OPA membership, saying that he thought if it was released, it would sow confusion. He didn’t explain why, but the positioning of Colby Phillips in a box under Director of Golf John Ma-

6 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

March 2020

Closures From Page 1 business activity, including much of the amenity services provided by the OPA to its membership, is lifted. Will relief from the closures be provided before the advent of the summer season, which traditionally is Memorial Day weekend? No one knows, least of all OPA officials. They are in full-bore doing-the-bestthey-can coping mode. Public Relations Director Josh Davis seems to be a perpertual motion machine releasing updates on the OPA Website daily and in email blasts, sometimes more than one press release per day. The updates are factual, not hysterical. General Manager John Viola in March 18 comments to the Progress didn’t sugarcoat the potential detrimental financial impact on the OPA from statewide Corona containment. He says the optimistic forecast of a $450,000 operating surplus for the 2019-20 fiscal year issued during a Board of Directors meeting March 7 could take a hit. How much of a hit he didn’t want to hazard a guess, but the OPA’s finance team is working on an updated forecast that will probably be released at the April board meeting. Even more worrisome, though, is the effect of a prolonged closure of swimming pools, restaurants and other amenities on the OPA’s 2020-21 budget. The fiscal year begins May 1. The bulk of the OPA’s revenue-producing activity other

than collecting annual lots assessments occurs in the months of June through September. “We are up against a rapidly changing situation,” Viola said. Because the OPA invests its reserve funds conservatively, with no exposure in the stock market, there will be no loss of principle from the precipitous decline in stock prices in recent days, OPA Treasurer Larry Perrone said in a recent press release. As interest rates decline, there likely will be a noticeable decrease in interest revenue from the OPA’s investments in bank-issued certificates of deposits and CDARs (Certificate of Deposit Account Registry), he said. Police department services to the OPA membership have been only modestly affected. Chief of Police Dave Massey has introduced a temporary enhanced telephone reporting system. In minor property crime cases, where there is no suspect, police will take the report by phone, except in cases where a victim requests the presence of the officer, he announced in a recent press release. “This is only a temporary change, and will not impact police response to all other types of incidents. We recognize that first responders have a duty to the residents to provide our continuing protection, and we will always be there to provide prompt and efficient service,” Massey said. In addition to the indoor pool and community center, the Public Works office is closed, with interactions

Assessment deadline extension From Page 1 1 to Aug. 1, with interest and penalities presumably not kicking in until Sept. 1. A payment extension could complicate matters for property owners who want to run for the board in this summer’s elections or to vote in that election if they opt to wait until the last possible date for payment. OPA bylaws require assessments to be paid by May 10 in order to be a candidate and by on or about July 1, or 35 days prior to the voting deadline in early August, to be able to cast a ballot in the election. Amending the bylaws requires an affirmative vote of the membership in a referendum. A press release issued by the OPA after the closed meeting did not itemize the options under consideration by the board. They could at least in theory include waiving interest and penalties for late payments for those who are on some sort of payment plan, but that wouldn’t necessarily be a significant departure from

Trendic lawsuit court date postponed until June 19

court date in the lawsuit involving former Ocean Pines Association director Slobodan Trendic and the OPA Board of Directors has been postponed until June 19 at the request of the defendants. It originally had been scheduled for a March 25 court date in Snow Hill. Trendic told the Progress that he readily agreed to the postponement. The suit asks the Circuit Court of Worcester County to order the OPA to conduct a referendum limiting Board of Directors’ spending authority. The defendants are asking the court to dismiss the suit outright or grant a motion for summary judgment in favor of the OPA.

available by phone and email only. Public Works Director Eddie Wells said the Architectural Review Committee meetings would be suspended, with all necessary documents being signed electronically. Permits and inspections will be handled through email or fax approval. The Public Works yard will be closed for the next two-to-three Saturdays, Wells said, and all Public Works staff will be under a liberal leave policy for 12-21 days. All activities and classes have been canceled at the Sports Core pool. A front desk person is available during the closure to take calls from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone who signed up for classes is eligible for makeups or adjustments. Staff during the closure will “shock” the pool, a process that uses additional chlorine for sterilization. All furniture and surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected.

current policy. Another idea forwarded to the board for consideration would waive the convenience fee paid by property owners who pay their assessments by credit card. In a statement issued after the closed meeting, OPA President Doug Parks said the board had discussed “potential options as they relate to payment of the annual assessment. During this time of uncertainty, we felt it prudent to acknowledge the effect the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic is having on many of our residents’ financial situation. “We discussed several possible options and have asked the General Manager to work with his financial team to analyze the financial impact for each of the options. “Our goal is to have several fully vetted solutions that can be considered in the effort to assist OPA members that are being impacted by the current economic conditions. A notification with details on viable options will be forthcoming,” Parks said. “As your Board of Directors, we will continue to work on behalf of the membership to address these important issues,” Parks said.

Emergency chart From Page 5 “There no 7emergency during thewas March meeting. organizational chart discussed in our closed meeting. Nor is the board’s role to prepare an organization chart for the OPA,” she said, directing any questions about it to the general manager. Director Steve Tuttle in an email to Horn asked if he had somehow missed seeing a copy of the chart at the meeting. “I know there was discussion about how duties would be handled if a key leader was sidelined,” he said. If Horn responded to Tuttle’s inquiry, the Progress was not included in the recipient list. In a follow-up conversation with the Progress, Daly concdeded that it’s possible the chart wasn’t passed around but “it was discussed” and it was Horn who initiated the discussion. Horn does have experience drawing up organizational charts. She drafted the official chart of the OPA that the board approved in January. That draft was forwarded to the Progress through the OPA public relations office for publication. That chart has Viola at the top of the pyramid, with department heads Steve Phillips and Colby Phillips, Chief of Police Dave Massey, Malinowski, Public Relations Director Josh Davis and Recreation and Parks Manager Debbie Donahue given more or less equal billing under the GM. An inquiry was emailed to Horn and other directors to comment on the emergency chart and the apparent non-compliance with Maryland law with respect to announcing and reporting on a topic for an executive session. That was not done in this case. No director responded to that inquiry.

OCEAN PINES

March 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Golf clubhouse still could open in April General manager discloses breakfast plans for ‘Clubhouse Bar and Grill’ By TOM STAUSS Publisher ost in all the pervasive focus on the Corona virus and the Ocean Pines Association’s responses to government edicts to shutter operations is the fact that work has been continuing on the new golf clubhouse, with the possibility that the building will be completed and available for a soft opening in April. That, of course, depends on whether the contractor, Whayland Construction, continues to send crews to work on the project, General Manager John Viola said in a text message to the Progress in response to an inquiry. So far, so good. Crews were on site on March 19, with no indication that their work ethic was negatively influenced by the Corona virus. If the project is completed as he hopes, and the golf course itself remains open, then it’s possible that pro shop operations could shift over

The new golf clubhouse as seen from the ponds. The L-shaped back deck is visible.

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Interior build-out continues at the new golf clubhouse. Above: the Clubhouse Bar and Grill Left: The community room Right: the kitchen

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Golf clubhouse From Page 7

The pro shop is taking shape at the new golf clubhouse.

from the temporary trailer in the parking lot to the new building. “It’s a very fluid situation, with things changing daily,” Viola said. The golf staff has taken extraordinary steps in response to Corona concerns. Flagsticks have been removed from greens and golf carts are wiped down after each use as preventative measures. Because of Governor Larry Hogan’s edict closing restaurants except for carry-out and delivery services, and no indication when it might be lifted, it would seem less likely that the restaurant and bar operation that Viola had hoped could have a soft opening in April will occur. On the other hand, the possibility isn’t absolutely foreclosed, because many golfers are known to grab a sandwich and a drink on the turn, or in the interval between finishing the first nine holes of play and teeing off on the second nine. Golfers could even phone in orders that could then

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Additionally, the Yacht Club will offer rotating family meals specials, for $40 each. Each family meal feeds four people. Meals includes eight rolls, choice of a large Caesar or house salad, and cookies and brownies. Nightly family meal specials are: • Lasagna (Wednesday) • Meat loaf with mashed potatoes and green beans (Thursday) • Seafood gumbo (Friday) • Chicken cacciatore (Saturday)

Yacht Club Club - peppered turkey breast, baked ham, provolone, bacon, lettuce, tomato, basil mayo, choice of wheat or classic white bread, $11 Crab Cake - jumbo lump crab cake, broiled and served on a brioche bun, lettuce, tomato and chipotle tartar, $16 Bourbon Dip - house-shaved prime rib, horseradish aioli and caramelized onions served on a baguette with bourbon au jus sauce, $14

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From Page 9 be picked up on the turn. Whether something like that happens is at this point mere speculation. The Matt Ortt Companies are offering delivery services with a full menu at the Yacht Club, even while the restaurant is closed to sit-down dining. But it is operating with a skeleton crew, essentially salaried management rather than hourly crews, and it’s not clear that MOC would have the staff to launch a soft opening of food and beverage operations at the new clubhoue. Viola announced at the Board of Directors’ March 7 meeting that the food and beverage operation that has been known as the Tern Grille has been renamed the Clubhouse Bar and Grill, chosen by the MOC in a rebranding effort. He later told the Progress that MOC had decided that the new Clubhouse Bar and Grill would serve breakfast, not just to golfers but to anyone in Ocean Pines or beyond.

Viola to keynote May 16 ﬂag ceremony The Worcester County Veterans Memorial Park will be the site of a flag display ceremony on May 16 at noon. Flags will be displayed from Armed Services Day, May 16, through Flag Day, June 14. Ocean Pines Association General Manager John Viola will be the keynote speaker at the May 16 event. The Worcester County Veterans Memorial has joined with the Rotary Club of Ocean City/Berlin to create the display of flags that will fly in Veterans Memorial Park, along Route 589, in Ocean Pines to honor heroes. Individuals and community businesses can be part of this tribute by sponsoring a flag for just $50. The sponsors' names and their heroes’ names will be identified on each flag. Proceeds from this project will benefit education outreach projects, community charities, and the Rotary Scholarship Fund. Cutoff date to sponsor a flag is May 13. To sponsor a flag, visit www. opvets.org to download a form. For more information, contact Cliff Berg at 302-540-2127 or email at cliff0917@aol.com.

March 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 11

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Board tries again to revise resolution to expedite DRs compliance

March 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

The directors approved a new M-01 resolution back in January designed to give the General Manager the authority to act without direct board involvement. But there was a key omission in the approved version that requires a do-over By TOM STAUSS

Publisher he Board of Directors back in January unanimously approved a revised M-01 resolution designed to expedite enforcement of the restrictive covenants and Architectural Review Committee guidelines. One objective of the revision was to give the general manager the authority to take compliance action against offending property owners within 30 days of the filing of a complaint. Another was to establish a procedure that would not require the Board of Directors to approve each and every finding of a continuing violation and to direct the GM to proceed with legal action. It turned out that the revised

resolution was afflicted with a key omission that ARC board liaison Frank Daly said constituted a legal loophole that made the entire enforcement mechanism spelled out in M-01 “less likely to survive a legal challenge.” So he brought back the revised resolution with a key addition designed to cure the defect for a first reading at the March 7 monthly meeting of the board. He called the process of trying to amend M-01 “literally like pulling teeth from a rattlesnake.” The omission from the version of M-01 approved in January was brought to the attention of Daly, OPA President Doug Parks, directors Steve Tuttle and Colette Horn, and General Manager John Viola by Bylaws and Resolutions

Advisory Committee chairman Jim Trummel in a Feb. 22 email. Trummel advised that the

approved resolution did not explicitly incorporate a monthly violation reporting form called Addendum A [see copy of the form elsewhere on this page]. The form is the way that the general manager is supposed to keep the board, ARC and the Department of Compliance, Permits and Inspections advised of enforcement activity. “The addendum is the only

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14 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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Compliance From Page 13 specific reference in the resolution of any transmission of information for the GM to act on in directing the [OPA{ attorney to initiate legal action [to enforce DRs or ARC guidelines]. “Nor is there any other documentation to refer to when the GM is to request the Board to suspend certain rights of violating members,” Trummel said. The B&R committee chair said including the addendum as part of the resolution is not a simple correction but rather is an amendment to the resolution that requires a first reading, essentially a do-over of the process that the board thought had been successfully concluded in January. With the first reading occurring without any fanfare or pushback at the March 7 meeting, Daly can bring back the revised version of M-01 for what should be final approval on second reading as early as the board’s April meeting. “These changes provide a defined path and rapid enforcement and compliance to the existing” restrictions and guidelines, Daly said back in January. Scrapping an earlier draft and an addendun setting out an enforcement timeline, the version of M-01 drafted by OPA Counsel Jereny Tucker set out a process which in most cases will not involve direct intervention by the board of directors in enforcement matters. The general manager is given the direct responsibility over enforcement activities. Eliminating mandatory board involvement in the process, which traditionally adds a board finding of a continuing violation and referral to legal counsel, is what allows the process to be expedited over traditional timelines, which sometimes can stretch to three months or even longer before legal action is commenced. In those cases in which property owners ignore complaint letters issued

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March 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

County officials make sales pitch for golf course irrigation proposal

Ocean Pines ratepayers would pay the price with higher rates

orcester County officials, during a town hall meeting on March 12, made a sales pitch for a proposal to begin using highly treated effluent to spray irrigate the Ocean Pines Golf Club. Officials underscored that no decisions have yet been made, but said $25,000 for a feasibility study is in the proposed Ocean Pines Water and Wastewater District budget. Worcester County Public Works Director John Tustin said Ocean Pines is likely the only publicly operated wastewater treatment plant in Maryland exempted from paying into the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund, because of the high quality of the treated effluent. He said the exemption saves rate payers about $60 per year. “That means that we don’t have to give the State of Maryland $500,000 a year to make improvements to wastewater treatment plants on the other side of the bay,” he said. Tustin said the quality of the drinking water is also “fantastic.” “The same ... water that is used to irrigate the golf course is the same

... water that is used for your drinking – same aquifer, same water,” he said. “Both the golf course and we [the public] are pulling at times over two million gallons a day out of that aquifer. So, think about the environmentalist aspects of that.” Deputy Director of Public Works John Ross said the Bay Restoration Fund was created to “get nitrogen out of wastewater, down to a level of four milligrams per liter.” “This treatment plant [in Ocean Pines] takes it down to three milligrams per liter – and a lot of times it’s down to two,” he said. Ross said the proposal was to use the treated wastewater to irrigate the golf course, rather than continue to draw from the aquifer. He added there are 35 spray irrigation facilities in Maryland, including nine on golf courses. “Three of those nine are in Worcester County,” Ross said. “It’s Glen Riddle, Lighthouse Sound and Eagle’s Landing. We’re also eventually going to spray at River Run. “This is not something new. This is very commonly done throughout the state [and] throughout the coun-

Compliance From Page 15 by the Department of Compliance, Permits and Inspections, or respond but fail to begin to correct an identified violation, legal action within a 30-day period is mandated by the new M-1. The new procedure says that if an alleged violator fails to correct an identified CPI issue or “meet the requrements of substantial progress within 30 days of the notice of violation or within the expiration of any extension granted by the ARC, the GM will notify counsel to begin the process of obtaining a court order to force compliance without further notice to the responsible party.” The revised M-1 says prior to referring the matter to counsel, the GM “may have CPI conduct an inspection to determine that the violation has not been corrected.” The new policy says that the GM has the authority and discretion “to confer with the board on a specific case prior to referring the case to counsel.” Under the new procedure, after-the-fact reporting to the board is required. “The GM will notify the board via email when action is taken and will include a summary of actions taken in [a] monthly report to the board,” the new M-1 said This monthly report will include the number of complaints/violations, the number resolved, the number sent to counsel, and that status of violations sent to counsel to obtain court orders, along with cost to the OPA of those court filings. The report will also include any requests from the GM to suspend the voting rights of violators as allowed under the declaration of restrictions.

try,” he added. Ross said there are five water supply wells in Ocean Pines, with permits allowing the county to use an annual average of one million gallons per day throughout the year and up to 2.5 million gallons per day during peak months. He said the golf course pulls around 200,000 gallons per day, suggesting moving to spray irrigation on the golf course could help reduce the burden on the aquifer. “That water is all coming out of the same reservoir,” he said, adding the water in Ocean Pines is one of five in the state under a water strategy area, “where they monitor the withdraws out of our wells in order to make sure that we don’t begin to pull saltwater in” because of the proximity to several nearby bodies of water. “This water supply system is unique,” Ross said. “We are able to pull the water out of the ground, we are able to adjust the PH and we are able to chlorinate that water, and it meets every requirement of the Safe Drinking Water Act. We do not have to filter it. We do not have to treat it with chemicals.” He said the Ocean Pines area is also able to meet requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act “without building a water treatment plant.” “If it ever gets to the point where you have to build a water treatment plant here ... take a look sometime at what we have to go through at Riddle Farm in order to clean the water up, [or] what we have to go through over at Mystic Harbor,” he said. “Not only do you generate, you have to filter the water [and] you have to add chemicals to the water, but them you have to backwash the filter, so you’re making additional wastewater when that happens. This is just such a unique water system up here in Ocean Pines, you want to protect that water system.” Ross said spray irrigation could potentially also help reduce discharges into the Saint Martin River. “Yes, we produce really clean water – less than three milligrams per liter total nitrogen – but that’s still not zero,” he said. “This move could be something that would beneficial

to the river … [and] it will make a benefit to the bay, because it goes from three milligrams to zero.” On potential next steps, Ross said in Eagle’s Landing they “built an entirely new irrigation system,” ran several miles of pipe from the golf course to the treatment plant, and put in a pump station. To start spray irrigating in Ocean Pines, he said, would be a far simpler process. “Where the wastewater treatment plant is located is almost across the street from where the entrance is to the [golf course],” he said. “We aren’t talking about miles of pipeline here. We’re talking about half a mile, or maybe three-quarters of a mile ... it’s not going to be expensive to do that.” He added costs to build a new spray irrigation system, which would be necessary to handle the treated effluent, were not yet known. By comparison, he said about $1.7 million was spent at the Eagle’s Landing golf course, and a total of about $3 million was spent on the project. “The first step we make is … we have to decide whether this is even something that’s viable or not.” Ross said the county would need to investigate financing packages and the potential for grants, but that it’s likely the rate payers would pay for the project, either through assessments or utility bill increases. “I know everyone is going to want to know who pays. That has not been decided at this point,” Ross said. “Obviously, there are really two choices here: the water and wastewater program could pay [or] the Association could pay for whatever improvements are needed for the golf course, but at the end of the day it’s still the homeowners in Ocean Pines. “Our first step and what we’re proposing to do right now, and why we have to have this public hearing, we’ve got to make a decision,” he continued. “We’re going to be putting $25,000 in next year’s water and wastewater budget [for a feasibility study]. “Once we get the information from the feasibility study, that information will be public, we’ll take it to the county commissioners and show them what it is, and a decision will have to be made whether we move forward with the project. No decisions like that have been made at this time, it’s just a concept that we believe is worth looking at for the long-term benefit of Ocean Pines,” Ross said.

16 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

March 2020

Board approves approves YC YC audio audio Board equipment in email vote equipment in email vote

The Board Board of of Directors Directors wasn’t The wasn’t ready to approve new audio equipready to approve new audio equipment for for the the Yacht Yacht Club Club upper upper floor ment floor banquet room room at at the the Feb. Feb. 5 5 monthly banquet monthly meeting, primarlily primarlily because because direcmeeting, directors wanted more information on tors wanted more information on why staff was recommending the why staff was recommending the second highest highest of of three three bids bids sought second sought for the project. for the project. That information information was was forthcomThat forthcoming not long after the meeting. As ing not long after the meeting. As expected, the the board board unanimously expected, unanimously agreed in in an an email email vote vote to to accept agreed accept the staff recommendation to accept accept the staff recommendation to the bid bid of of $17,394 $17,394 from from Mid Mid South the South Audio of Georgetown, De., for the Audio of Georgetown, De., for the job, citing previous work work wor, citing the the firm’s firm’s previous previous wor, citing the work installing similar similar equipment equipment at at the installing the Community Center. Community Center. The company company was was awarded awarded the The the contract to install equipment at the contract to install equipment at the golf clubhouse clubhouse Feb. Feb. 5. 5. golf Director Tom Tom Janasek Janasek had had said Director said he couldn’t vote for the Yacht Club he couldn’t vote for the Yacht Club system because because he he felt felt there there needed system needed to be more explanation for why why the the to be more explanation for company’s bid was more than company’s bid was more than the the low bid bid submitted submitted by by Shore Shore Home low Home Solutions. Solutions. Staff promised promised to to provide provide that that Staff information, setting up a possible information, setting up a possible email vote vote before before the the regular regular meetemail meeting in March. ing in March.

Former director, director, candidate candidate Former sing board’s praises sing board’s praises

Former director director Esther Esther Diller, Former Diller, who resigned from the board last who resigned from the board last year for for personal personal reasons, reasons, appeared year appeared during the the Public Public Comments Comments segsegduring ment of the March 7 Board of Direcment of the March 7 Board of Directors meeting meeting to to commend commend the the board tors board for outstanding perfomance in the for outstanding perfomance in the months following following her her departure months departure from the the board. board. from She didn’t cite specifics, specifics, but but she She didn’t cite she probably had in mind progress on probably had in mind progress on major capital projects and a harmomajor capital projects and a harmonious budget budget process process for for 2020-21. 2020-21. nious “I’m so impressed with the way “I’m so impressed with the way you’re working together,” she said. you’re working together,” she said. Also joining joining in in with with praise praise for for the Also the board was Paula Gray, who has board was Paula Gray, who has run run for the the board board the the past past two two summers, for summers, coming up short in both attempts. coming up short in both attempts. That didn’t didn’t prevent prevent her her from from citcitThat ing what she clearly regards at the ing what she clearly regards at the good work work of of directors directors who who successgood successfully ran for the board. fully ran for the board. Gray also also commented commented on on what Gray what she said is an increasing pattern of she said is an increasing pattern of clear-cutting of trees on Ocean Pines clear-cutting of trees on Ocean Pines residential lots, lots, asking asking the the board residential board and management to take action to and management to take action to stop the thepractice. practice, which violates stop ARC building guidelines.

OCEAN PINES BRIEFS Board approves contract for mosquito control

Sole source contracts are generally looked upon unfavorably in various OPA governing documents, but one notable exception to observing the preference for three bids is the annual mosquito control contract awarded to the state of Maryland’s Department of the Environment. The DoE is pretty much the only game in town for large scale mosquito spraying, and historically OPA boards have awarded the agency the contract for mosquito spraying without much debate or discussion. At the March 7 board meeting, this year’s mosquito spraying contract was awarded for $19,000.

Board ratifies CPI enforcement actions

Once again telling the board this could be the last month he asks the

directors for action citing property owners for continuing violations of OPA restrictive covenants and guidelines, General Manager John Viola presented three such cases for review and action at the March 7 board meeting. A revised M-01 resolution is supposed to give the GM the authority to move on Compliance, Permit and Inspections Department cases without a board vote ratifying the action, but worth-smithing issues have delayed final approval of the revised M-01. That has left Viola executing CPI enforcement using the traditional method of asking for board approval. The directors cited the three properties for continuing violations and legal action. The properties include 55 Grand Port Road for an unregistered vehicle, 92 White Sail Circle for multiple sheds, and 19 Deer Field Court for a shed that doesn’t match the house color.

Board approves lower locked-in price for 2020-21 bulkhead replacement Awards contract to Fisher Marine for $1.18 million By TOM STAUSS Publisher isher Marine of Chincoteague, Va., the marine contractor that did most of the bullkhead replacement in Ocean Pines before hitting a rough patch in relations with the Ocean Pines Association in the early days of the Brett Hill administration, has been steadily increasing its presence more recently. In 2020-21, the fiscal year that begins May 1, it appears that the company will be returning to its familiar role as the dominant if not exclusive player in the bulkhead arena, securing Ocean Pines’ business at a linear foot cost of $355 that apparently will be locked in for the following year as well. The Board of Directors at its March 7 monthly meeting voted unanimously to award the contract for 2020-21 bulkheading in the amount of $1,182,150 that includes 3,330 linear foot of bulkheading. That’s roughly $10,000 less than had been estimated back in December when the initial draft of the 2020-21 budget was unveiled. The Fisher Marine was recommended by staff because it was the lowest of three bids submitted and because Fisher indicated willingness to lock in the linear foot cost for next year if the OPA was willing to sign the contract promptly. Fisher is able to guarantee the price because it will be making a bulk purchase of materials. The board action facilitated that quick signing. Targeted for bulkheading replacement are areas in the Pintail Isle section of Ocean Pines, along North Pintail Drive and a parcel that the Public Works Department calls Stacy Park. Initial plans included in the December budget draft were to replace 3,180 linear of bulkheading at a rate of $375 a linear foot and a projected cost of $1,192,500.

Prime time scheduling issues at Sports Core pool

At the February meeting of the Aquatics Advisory Committee, member Brooks Ensor brought up the issues of congestion and safety concerns at the Sports Cpre indoor pool during prime time, between 5 and 9 p.m. Ensor noted that the Hammerhead swim team practice occupies two lanes at the same time as other activities including lessons, boot camp, free swim, teenage boys throwing balls, lap swim, free swim, and exercise classes. Sports Core is a difﬁcult pool to guard due because of blind spots, the slide, and birthday parties, he said. For safety reasons, Ensor suggested having three lifeguards on duty during prime time, two guarding the pool and one on break or picking up trash. Another suggestion was to rotate guard positions every 15 minutes, with a 15-minute break after 45 minute on duty.

Advisory committee members appointed

The Board of Directors at its March 7 monthly meeting appointed a number of OPA members to advisory committees, bringing most of them up to optimum numbers. Appointmnets included Susan Holt as the first-term alternate to the Architectural Review Committee; Lawrence Malone to the ARC, third term; Olga Novy, Golf, second term; Ronald Porcelet, Recreation and Parks, first term; Martha Arthur, Recreation and Parks, first term; Helen Johnson, Strategic Planning Committee, first term; and Patricia Benner, Environment and Natural Assets, first term. Also approved were Mary Ann Witcomb, Elections, first term; Susan Morris, Golf, first term; and Larry Davies, Golf, second term. Davies currently serves as chair of the golf committee.

Shepherd’s Nook closes ‘til April 1

Because of health concerns surrounding the COVID-19 virus, the Shepherd’s Nook and Flea Market at the Community Church at Ocean Pines will remain closed through April 1. Clothing and household donations cannot be accepted and processed during this time.

March 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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March 2020

Board approves another tranche of capital expenditures Directors conduct special meeting electronically

cean Pines Board members on March 20 approved three capital purchase requests and held a closed-session discussion on matters related to the COVID-19

(Coronavirus) pandemic. The meeting was held in the Association Administration Building, but without public in attendance because of Governor Larry Hogan’s

recent executive order limiting public gatherings to no more than 10 people. Because of that mandate, Board members allowed write-in pub-

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lic comments by email, as well as through a Facebook Live stream. Association President Doug Parks said Ocean Pines would continue to explore new ways to involve the public, without putting them at risk. “This is our first foray into a virtual meeting environment [and] it’s still in its testing phases right now,” he said. Parks added that he, IT Manager Steve Grabowski and Public Relations and Marketing Director Josh Davis successfully tested a virtual meeting application, Microsoft Teams, one day prior. “It provides both audio and video,” Parks said. “The challenge is how to expand that out into [a] larger and interactive audience, especially in regard to the public comments. “We’re looking at ways to be creative with regard to making sure that ... whatever virtual meeting that we hold, that we will be able to have public comments and have the audience interact with us,” Parks continued. “More to come on that.” Parks also encouraged support for local restaurants, many of which were hurt by mandatory closures related to the Coronavirus crisis. “Whatever we can do to patronize our restaurants and so on and so forth, I’d ask that you do that,” he said. “I know that the Yacht Club is offering delivery and there are also other restaurants in the area that are offering the same options.” During capital purchase requests, Board members voted 7-0 to approve two new drainage pipes, for 173 Teal Circle and 80 Teal Circle. Parks added a third capital request, to buy a generator for the Police station expansion. He said the purchase had been slated for an email vote. Board members voted 6-1 to approve the purchase, with Director Tom Janasek not in favor. Janasek asked why the generator was not included in the original estimate for the Police station expansion and noted there was an $11,000 discrepancy between bids. He also said there was a lack of information on installation and other items associated with the expenditure. Under “new business,” Board members voted 7-0 to adjourn to closed session to discuss “potential actions to be taken relative to the COVID-19 pandemic, pertaining to employees, personnel and discussion of individual OPA lot assessment accounts.

OCEAN PINES

March 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Golf organizations to be guaranteed a presence on advisory committees

rank Daly, the Board of Directors’ liaison to the Golf Advisory Committee, introduced a revised C-11 resolution at the board’s March 7 monthly meeting that would guarantee representation of various golf organizations in Ocean Pines on the committee. Daly told his colleagues that the proposed revision had actually gone to the board in 2019 on first reading, but he never took the next step to ask for approval on second reading. “We thought that with three new board members since then, it should be brought back to this board for another first reading,” Daly said. The three organizations that would be guaranteed representation on the committee include the Men’s Golf Association, the Women’s Golf Association, and the Golf Member Council, formerly known as the Golf Governors.

“There’s a value for all these stakeholders” to serve on the committee, Daly said. Each organization would select a member to serve. The representative would need to meet all the usual qualifications to serve on an advisory committee. That incluces paid-up lot assessments and having no outstanding Architectural Review Committee compliance issues, essentially the same requirements as serving on the board. Basically that would mean he or she would need to be a member in good standing of the OPA. Director Larry Perrone said these organizations would not be required to submit names to the board for approval, the way that most advisory committee members are appointed. Appointment, in other words, would be more or less automatic. “The three groups mentioned have a lot of insight” into the Ocean Pines

golf community and would be valuable additions to the committee, Perrone said. Daly will need to bring back the

revised resolution to the board for a second reading and approval, which presumably could happen as soon as the board’s monthly meeting in April. There’s no urgency to the matter, as the OPA in separate action related to the Corona lockdown has suspended advisory committees indefinitely.

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Board approves ARC guidelines New language on fire pits, signs, and work trucks included By TOM STAUSS

Publisher he Board of Directors approved a revised set of Architectural Review Committee guidelines in a unanimous vote of six directors March 7. There were a few, relatively modest changes from a version of the guideliness that the directors debated and rejected in

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fire pits in Ocean Pines right now, there’s no way you’re gonna keep up with them,” he said. Eliminated in the final version of the approved guidelines is a requirement that fire pits must be installed by a licensed contractor. New language also says that portable fire pits are allowed without a permit, but homeowner-installed portable permits are not allowed. Final approved language omitted language advising that homeowners “should be certain that [insurance] coverage for medical payments and liability adequately covers the potential risk” of fire pits. Also deleted was a requirement that someone should always be present until a fire pit is extinguished. Janasek at the January meeting also had expressed unhappiness with guidelines related to parking of commercial trailers and recreational vehicles and requirements for fences on lots in Ocean Pines. “We’ve had issues with fencing in Ocean Pines for the last 30 years and this is getting more and more restrictive with the new guidelines and I think again that should be on a case by case basis. I know it’s tedious to do it. But I just don’t agree with it in some situations,” he said. A comparison of the guideliness in the January draft and the final approved version indicates no change in the language pertaining to fences. Regarding commercial vehicles, Janasek in January said that Ocean Pines is a completely different community than it was 10 or 20 years ago, and there are many residents who run their own business and may need to occasionally park a work trailer on their lot. “But I just think these are too restrictive and ... I’m not gonna vote for [them],” he said. The language in the final version of the guidelines appears to have been tightened up slightly from the January iteration but there is no change in the core prohibition of large vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than Class C, without explicit approval of the ARC. Janasek’s hopes for an easing of restrictions appears not to have been realized. Director Camilla Rogers in January said she “had a particular problem with the whole thing about signs,” referencing language related to the permitting of OPA election versus political signs on lots. She said the language needs to be q

22 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

occur later that week. As of March 12, however, the newMarch 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES ARC guidelines From Page 22 clarified especially since a contentious presidential election is likely. Although the earlier version of the guideliness specified that political signs are permitted without ARC approval, the approved version indeed does define what is meant by political signs. “Political signs supporting the election of a state of national candidate, or for the vote of a referendum, do no require ARC approval in writing before posting. All other signs must be first be submitted to the CPI Department for approval.” The latter requirement is no change from the status quo. As ARC liaison, Tuttle presented the draft guidelines to the board for consideration and offered a motion to approve them in January, only to be rebuffed, much to his chagrin. The process went much smoother at the March meeting, with no director voicing any objections to the latest revised draft. “Nothing’s changed dramatically,” Parks said. “There’s some things in that document that [were] a little dated [and] something things that, quite frankly, the first time we ran through them were ... unenforceable.” One example, he said, dealt with “the height of your fire, and your fire pit was going to be measured.” It turns out, however, that there were no fire pit height restrictions in the January version of the guidelines that had Janasek so fired up. “We made it a little more practical,” Parks said. “[There was] a lot of input from a lot of different people, and I think we’ve got a very good document … I would encourage

the membership to make themselves aware of the ARC guidelines, maybe as a refresher.” Tuttle said the committee worked on the new guidelines for about 18 months, and that several Board members reviewed the changes, including himself, Parks, Rogers and Director Colette Horn. Tuttle said some minor changes were still needed, namely inserting page numbers and a table of contents. The new guidelines were to be posted online following a final committee review, scheduled to occur later that week.

As of March 12, however, the new guidelines were not posted in the ARC section of the Web site. Tuttle said the prior guidelines dated back to 2006, with some revisions done in 2010. “The ARC committee has worked over the past year to update and revise the guidelines. The effort has been to clarify areas where there has been confusion, and to provide a document that assists all residents of Ocean Pines in understanding and utilizing the ARC guidelines,” he said. Tuttle said the revised guidelines would benefit residents, as well

as the Compliance Permit and Inspections Department and the ARC in carrying out its duties. Rogers thanked the committee for putting in many months of work to produce the revisions. “This is a very thoughtful document. It is one that has had a lot of work, a lot of revisions [and] a lot of input ... I certainly support the passage of these new requirements,” she said. “Nothing may ever be perfect. We may need to wordsmith somewhere down the line again, but this is certainly a far cry from where we were... Thank you, Steve, for your leadership on this.”

Diakonia donation

The Republican Women of Worcester County recently presented a check for $400 to Diakonia to support efforts in providing emergency and transitional housing and counseling and assistance to its guests. Pictured receiving the check is Bee Miller, left, executive director of Diakonia, Vera Beck, RWWC Chair for Caring for America.

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Viola, Davis working on providing display space for Ocean Pines Boat Club Club member Doris Lloyd reminds board that her organization has 500 members who helped pay for Yacht Club By TOM STAUSS Publisher espite some initial pushback by Ocean Pines Association President Doug Parks last month, it now appears that the OPA will provide some sort of display case for the Ocean Pines Boat Club

near the side entrance to the Ocean Pines Yacht Club. Spearheading that effort is General Manager John Viola and Public Relations Director Josh Davis. After club member and former OPA president and director Doris Lloyd appeared before the board

for a consecutive monthly meeting to ask for space at the Yacht Club to display club materials, Viola assurred Lloyd that he and Davis were working on a solution. Viola said it would be some sort of glass encasement similar to what protects the boat model display inside the Yacht Club. But his idea is to locate the encasement outside the Yacht Club, near the main side entrance into the first floor restaurant and bar. It would be built to withstand poor weather, Viola told the Progress. Lloyd’s appeal to the board at the March 7 meeting included a reminder that the boat club is comprised of 500 Ocean Pines Association members who contributed to the cost of the Yacht Club. Prior to a renovation

of the first floor restaurant and bar area accomplished by Yacht Club management contract Matt Ortt Companies, the boat club as well as the Power Squadron had built-in cabinets that allowed for organizational materials to be display. The Power Squadron’s cabinet display has been retained in the corridor area near the service bar. Last month, Lloyd appeared before the board to ask for a similar display case, a request that Parks initially resisted. During the March 7 meeting, Lloyd said she was sorry for having to make the same appeal a second time, with Parks telling her that she didn’t have to apologize for representing the interests of her club. Lloyd is a frequent attendee of board meetings since her days as an OPA director and president. At the Feb. 5 board meeting, she told the board that at one time both organizstions had an area to display promotional materials but that currently the Matt Ortt Companies has made q

24 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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OCEAN PINES

March 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Boat club

Unused balances on pool cards to be extended to Sept. 7, Viola says

eneral Manager John Viola has announced that unused balances on pool discount cards will be extended to Sept. 7, much later than indicated in an announcement issued in January, when the deadline for converting to new cards with balances intact was set for May 1. Viola told the Progress in a text message that he has always maintained said that no Ocean Pines property owner would lose balances on their legacy cards. According to a OPA press release issued in January, anyone who bought a pool coupon card prior to May 1, 2019, could extend the unused balance by visiting the Ocean Pines Association Administration Office on 239 Ocean Parkway. That date is now Sept. 7. Currently OPA administrative offices are closed for these kind of transactions that involve interaction with staff. According to the January press release, starting on Monday, March 2, homeowners and residents who bring a pool card with an unused balance could extend the balance for one year. The card would then remain active until April 30, 2021, The press release also said that all cards that were bought prior to May 1, 2019, with an unused balance not brought to the administration office by April 30, 2020 would expire on that date. Viola said that the April 30, 2021, expiration date remains in place for all new or replacement cards issued in the 2020-21 fiscal year for accounting reasons, but that could change.

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From Page 24 space available only to the Power Squadron, apparently because it asked first. During the Public Comments segment of the Feb. 5 board meeting, Lloyd and an another member of the club said that’s unfair because the boat club is an Ocean Pines-based organization whose purpose is in keeping with the mission and purpose of the Yacht Club. T There’s room in the Yacht Club for both, they said. Parks initially seemed to throw cold water on prospects for revisiting the decision, seeming to shift blame on MOC for how the situation has unfolded. Parks said that initially MOC wanted to deny the Power Squadron’s request for a display cabinet but reluctantly relented when organization officers reminded MOC that the company had promised space. When that decision was made, the decision was also made to deny space to any other organization that asked, Parks said. That decision does not appear to have been specifically targeted at the boat club, but it’s the only other organization that traditionally has had its promotionaj materials present in the Yacht Club. “We said we would say no (to additional requests),” Parks said, without elaborating when that decision was made and who made it. The subject had not been previous-

ly presented for discussion at any board meeting since MOC took over management of the Yacht Club for the OPA. No other director contradicted Parks or defended the boat club’s request. The seeming hard-line by Parks seemed to melt later, however, when General Manager John Viola and Public Relations Director Josh Davis began checking out a possible compromise suggested by an OPA member. The suggestion was to ask the Power Squadron and the boat club to share the cabinet space now occu-

pied solely by the Power Squadron. accomplished, and I hope it will be ΊΙΙΛΘΟΎ That option proved to be unwork- satisfactory the boat club,” PrincetoGeorges Cnty Md Viola able because the existing Power said. ΍χϚϋͧ йрͿкй Sqadron cabinet isn’t large enough, ΎϞϖ ϊχϚϋͧ й Price: 98.500 (00.00) according to Viola, so he began Ί΍и thinking about a solution involving Coupon: 3.25 (00/00/00) a glass encasement that would be located outside the building near the WhenDate: should you07/15/2036 start receiving Social Security? Maturity (00/00/00) side entrance. Viola told the Progress that he Callable Date: (00/00/00 or your N/A) Think carefully about 07/15/2028 when to start receiving benefits. has discussed the idea with Public Works Director Eddie Wells, who 100 CallYouPrice: (000)your benefits by 39%. could be reducing said he will fit the project in after / AAA Rating: Aaa (XXX/XXX) the press of getting OPA amenities I am here to help make that decision easier for you. ready for the opening of the summer Other: Please contact(Obligor) me at 410-208-1704 for a season in a few months. one-on-one complimentary, no obligation * “He has an idea of how it can be 3.25 TAX-FREE* Please contact me at 410-208-1704 for a% oneoron one complimentary, consultation attend our seminar.no obligation, cons attend our seminar. Call for times, and location. Call for times, date anddates location

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26 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

March 2020

Compensation

Board approves $45,000 for new police department furnishings

From Page 25

Technical adjustments to the OPA balance sheet would make it possible to extend legacy cards beyond April 30 of next year, he said. Viola has said that previously that replenishing coupons will be made easier in the future once Northstar software that makes interactivity possible goes live. It doesn’t appear that that will occur in time for the prime membership season, that typically begins in April. With the uncertainty caused by management reactions to the Corona virus, it’s not even clear when OPA amenities will be open, and it’s unclear whether property owners will be purchasing memberships or pool cards until there is more clarity. Anyone with questions, about the status of their coupon cards can contact the Membership and Assessment office at 410-641-7717, or email Meyer at rmeyer@oceanpines.org.

Same consultant who helped redecorate the Yacht Club is assisting the OPA By TOM STAUSS Publisher eneral Manager John Viola had no trouble persuading the Board of Directors to go along with his proposal to spend $45,000 in new furnishings for the expanded police station now under construction in the administration building. The proposal was a last-minute add-on to the agenda of the March 7 board meeting and was not the result of the usual three-bid procurement process required under Ocean Pines Association bylaws. The board with no debate unanimously approved the $44,584.05 in new furnishings for the expanded police station when it’s completed later this year. The funding source is the replacement reserve. Assisting with the purchases is local designer Tobie Jacobs, who Viola hired under his authority as GM to spend up to $15,000 with explicit board approvals. Jacobs’s fees are substantially less than $15,000,

Viola told the Progress. Jacobs, who is associated with the Matt Ortt Companies and appears on that company’s Web site, managed the redesign of the Yacht Club when MOC took over management of the Yacht Club and Beach Club for the OPA about two years ago, Viola said. By hiring a consultant to assist with furnishing what essentially is a new police station, Viola said the OPA will end up with better quality furniture at lower cost to the association, Viola said. Jacobs has had some experience with furnishing other police departments, he added. Viola said she helped with the layout of the interior and it’s functionality has been validated by Chief of Police Dave Massey. According to the MOC Web site, Jacobs has led many small and large-scale commercial projects, including designing 18 offices in multiple states and a 26,000 square foot corporate office for a client in just three and a half years.

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OCEAN PINES

March 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Directors amend employment contract to allow for additional compensation By TOM STAUSS Publisher t appears there was an omission in General Manager John Viola’s employment contract approved this past December. The two-and-a-half-year agreement runs from Dec. 1 of last year to June 30, 2022. Viola had a sixmonth interim agreement in place as of June last year, which was converted into a non-interim position with the new contract. According to a statement issued by the Board of Directors after a March 7 closed meeting, language will be added to the contract “to allow for a merit increase based on

the performance evaluation of the GM by the Board, as there was no stipulation for that condition in the current agreement.” The board action may not be coincidental, as Viola is due for a performance review at the time of the April board meeting, presumably in a closed session because it involves a personnel matter. Although Viola received a raise in December, it’s possible the board’s action in the March 7 closed meeting indicates another adjustment after the April performance review is possible. Viola told the Progress recently there is no language in the con-

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tract amendment that specifies how much he might be given in a merit increase. But the board action in a March closed session a month before a performance review is scheduled suggests that the review could result in Viola receiving a raise or bonus within just a few months of the December contract extension. In that short time, what is generally regarded as a professional, well-executed budget process occurred, resulting in a no increase in base lot assessments in 2020-21, the fiscal year that begins this coming May 1. The OPA had been heading to

an operating surplus this year of roughly $450,000, but Corona closure impacts could affect that. The new two-and-a-half deal executed in December gave him a raise to $155,000 per year, roughly the same as former General Manager John Bailey’s when he departed Ocean Pines about a year ago. Viola continues to waive health care benefits, but in an implicit quid pro quo for that waiver the board agreed to a retention bonus of $15,000, payable in three increments of $5,000 each. The first payment was payable Dec. 1, with additional $5,000 payments on the first and second anniversary dates of the contract’s effective date. Any merit increase or bonus Viola might receive after the April performance review would be in addition to these retention bonuses. The December contract specified 12 days of vacation time per year, 12 days of sick leave with no carry-over provision and five days of personal leave also with no carry-over provision.

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28 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

March 2020

Viola From Page 27 The contract specified a limit of 17 days of accrued vacation time. As was the case with Bailey and other general managers over the years, the contract allows for termination without cause. Viola had been named interim general manager in a special meeting in March of last year. The action was then ratified and clarified in a closed session of the board following its regular meeting April 6, reportedly to fix what some considered inelegant or imperect language in the original motion in March appointing Viola. The initial March appointment was intended as an unpaid, voluntary role. He retained some insurance coverage as an officer of the corporation. The arrangement was subsequently revised to pay Viola $700 per week, a minimum payment required under federal labor law. The action brought the OPA into compliance with its bylaws, which require an interim GM after the departure of a prior manager and

Women’s suffrage

International Women’s Day and the Suffrage Centennial were celebrated at the Georgetown Circle in Georgetown March 8. The event was sponsored by the Freeman Foundation and was attended by many, including these members of the 100SA group. Pictured left to right are Linda Linzey, Co-Chair; Joy Braun; Vicky Wallace; Susan Buyer, Co-Chair; Sue Fox; and Debbie Gousha.

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officer of the OPA. He relinquished that role in August, after results of the annual board election were announced, with newly elected director Larry Perrone succeeding him. The six-month contract that Viola and the board agreed to in June of last year paid him $70,000 over the six-month term and did not include insurance or retirement benefits. At that point he was no longer in an acting or interim capacity, but general manager of the OPA. The agreement specified that Viola’s tenure could be extended in monthly increments after that. Instead of monthly increments, the board implicitly expressed its confidence in Viola by negotiating a

much longer contract period when the six-month agreement expired this past December. A New York native, he has an MBA with a specialization in finance and tax management from Pace University in New York and earned an undergraduate degree at Manhattan College. He worked in the private sector as a certified public accountant, including 28 years with Avon, where he finished as the assistant global controller. Prior to his appointment as interim general manager last year, Viola had served for a number of years as a member and chairman of the influential Budget and Finance Advisory Committee.

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OCEAN PINES

March 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Board considering changes to committee functionality OPA cancels meetings of advisory panels until early June

The recently completed Pine’eer Craft Clubhouse in White Horse Park.

April 4 grand opening set for Artisan Gift Shop

cean Pines and the Pine’eer Craft Club is scheduled to host a grand opening ceremony for the new Artisan Gift Shop on Saturday, April 4, at 9 a.m. The Carona lockdown could affect whether the event takes place, but the Progress had not received a cancellation notice as of March 20. The event will include cake, a free raffle for gift certificates, and a free t-shirt tote bag with every purchase. The new building, in White Horse Park and across from the Administration Building on 239 Ocean Parkway in Ocean Pines, opened on Feb. 8 and runs on Saturdays, in conjunction with the Farmer’s Market from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ocean Tower Construction LLC of Ocean City built the new shop, while Ocean Pines Public Works and Joe Costello put together the interiors, including shelves and displays. The Pine’eer Craft Club has operated since 1974 and was previously housed between the Administration Building and Community Center. Club members create and sell a wide variety of items, including woodworking, candles, pottery, jewelry, home décor, and all manner of sewn, crocheted and knitted items. All items are made locally, and most are made in Ocean Pines. Sales from the Craft Club’s gift shop have benefited the Ocean Pines

Association and other community groups for several decades, with total donations of more than $160,000. For more information on the Pine’eer Craft Club, email opcraftclub@aol.com or call Craft Club President Sharon Puser at 410-2083032.

ew methods to better utilize the advisory committees and make them more accountable to the Board of Directors have been proposed in a revision to Resolution C-01 introduced for first reading at the March 7 board meeting by Director Colette Horn. One initiative creates a so-called “charging document” that is to be used by the board and committees “to articulate specific tasks that are requested,” according to a draft revision of C-01 that pertains to committee general policy. The second initiative fine tunes the process in which minutes of committee members are to be conveyed to the OPA president. A new form has been created for that purpose, with the recommendation that minutes contain references to agenda items discussed at a committee meeting. Somewhat oddly, however, the proposed C-01 revision adds that “discussion content is not necessary” to include in the minutes, which might be construed as encouragement for committees to be sparse in informing the board about what they’ve talked about in meetings. There is no prohibition against more detailed minutes, however. There was no pushback among the directors on the suggested amendments to C-01. They will be presented soon for final approval after a second reading, perhaps as soon as the board’s April meeting. Meanwhile, because of the Corona virus lockdown in Ocean Pines, the Ocean Pines Association has announced that advisory committee meetings are canceled for the next 60 days. Association President Doug Parks issued the following statement on March 20: “In the spirit of being consistent with federal, state and local government positions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board is advising its advisory committees to cancel all regularly scheduled meetings for the next 60 days. We will revisit the issue in the beginning of June to advise further,” according to the statement.

30 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

March 2020

2017-18 OPA BUDGET

OCEAN PINES

ay from Sports Core pool addition

d e e

l . / r g e t d r

Work group created to establish procedures for new capital reserve

staff uses for aquatics-related programming. A New-England based company, Structures Unlimited, built the Sports Core pool enclosure roughly ten years ago for a little over $1 million. Hill said he and his staff are determining whether the addition would require the same company to do the expansion, or whether some other contractor can accomplish it. He said the goal is to accomplish the work this summer, at the same time the he Board of Directors on Feb. pool would be closed for its semi-annu-

al closure for cleaning and water replacement in late August or September. He envisions a two-week closure, with Ocean Pines’ four outdoor pools available for use during that period. During initial phases of construction of the addition, the pool would not need to be closed, Hill said. Once the addition is completed, the wall between the existing enclosure and the new structure will be removed. “For safety reasons, this final phase will require the pool to really wasn’t my main objecbe “It closed,” he said.

T oor, outdoor fees for pickleball players

5 agreed to set up a work tive, [in] establishing this account, group to recommend controls to put a lot of money in there so we related to the new capital reserve could do gigantic projects,” he said. fund. “This is really designed to do smallThe Board created the fund last er-level fee projects or purchases ... so dict loss of membership revenue from two-tier structure year at the urging of OPA Director that they don’t have a direct impact General Manage Brett Hill in his draft needs two weeks of constant 60-degree and Treasurer Larry Perrone, to set on the assessment.” budget in January. It’s $100 for indi- weather to do the work. The hope is that aside forand new capitalowners projects According to Resolution F-03, vidualmoney resident property of April weather will cooperate, he said.on without directly affecting lot assessFinancial Reserve Accounts, the tos Ocean Pines and $175 for families. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen ments. tal balance of the fund cannot exThe drop-in rate for play at the Com- whether the board decision to levy dropf munity Center gymnasium is is $3funded for res- ceed in fees top of membership fees will The new capital reserve $1on million. d by idents and $5 forcollections those who don’t or affect membership, as pickleball ofassessment that live hereAssociation President Dougclub Parks s tofore own property in Ocean Pines. entirely said ficers he predict. have been allocated liked the idea of the new d to the As of the first week March, the pick- capital Club fund, officersbut have suggested that the replacement reserve. added, “we have to leball courts planned for the Manklin board update board resolution M-02 to In the past, according to Perrone, have the absolute proper controls.” e Meadows racquet sports complex are list pickleball as an annual fee-based capital “You’veM-02 heard me say n many not yetsmaller ready for play. projects “didn’t amenity. states the before: capital any cost get done or the purchases didn’t get four directors can decide they want a Hill told the Progress that the con- for amenities, such as the Community the impact as- to buildare a bowling hemembers said. “I e made” tractor because that is of restriping two on tennis Center, born by alley,” all OPA g sessments. courts for pickleball, American Tennis, like the idea of tying these spending

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initiatives to a strategic plan.” In order to prevent reckless spending, Parks said, there needs to be a mechanism in place “to make sure that we are addressing the proper authority for how to select a project, transfer monies into the capital reserve fund, and how to approve expenditures.” Parks said such a mechanism could come in the form of another resolution. “I would be much more comfortable if we had a very succinct and solid reference,” Parks said. “Until that happens, I’m very uncomfortable.” Perrone suggested using the Strategic Planning Committee as a review panel for new capital projects. “I agree we need to [put] a little bit more process behind it,” he said. However, Perrone said it was the recommendation of Bylaws and Resolutions Committee Chairman Jim Trummel to not include that in a resolution.

“[Doing so] would tie us down to exact compliance,” Perrone said. “I don’t have a problem with that,” Parks said. “I think the way that the thing would operate, it could create problems,” Perrone said. Association Vice President Steve Tuttle suggested instead forming a small work group to continue the discussion. “Let Larry lead it and come up with a set of policies or procedures and bring it back to the Board for consideration,” Tuttle suggested. Parks endorsed the idea. “One of the reasons we want to have these kinds of discussions in public [is] so the membership understands what we’re thinking about, and so that when we arrive at a decision we’ve got the right amount of information before we move forward,” he said. Perrone agreed and the work group will be created. The Board has already allocated funds in the new capital reserve for a room addition to the Sports Core indoor pool, in anticipation that the funds will be spent in 2021-22 or later. The initial installment of $100,000 has been allocated in the 2020-21 budget, with infusions needed in the following years to pay for a room that could range in cost between $200,000 and $300,000.

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March 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

$3.1 million in capital spending approved in 2020-21 budget By TOM STAUSS Publisher hen General Manager John Viola unveiled the proposed 2020-21 budget this past December, it called for $2.99 million in spending on bulkheads, roads, drainage, and assorted other spending categories. The final version of the budget approved last month increased that to $3.1 million. According to budget documents posted on the OPA Web site, bulkheading replacement is projected to cost the OPA $1,405,000, up from a $1,195,200 projection in the De-

Source: Approved 2020-21 Ocean Pines Association budget

cember budget draft. All other capital spending is projected to cost $1,721,164, excluding a $100,000 transfer to the New Capital Reserve for a future Sports Core pool addition. That compares to the $1,691,164 in projected capital spending in the original budget draft. The approved capital expenditure list for next year differs from the original draft in only two items. Roof, siding and windows for the Administration building renovation under way has been increased to $220,000 from the $150,000 originally estimated.

New golf pro shop counters, cabinets and shelvings at an estimated cost of $40,000 in the December draft does not appear in the approved version of the budget, as this expense has been shifted into the current fiscal year. All other line items in the capital budget remain the same. In addition to $1.4 million in bulkhead replacement, the approved budget projects road resurfacing at $324,570 and drainage at $611,575. Dredging estimated at $60,000 in the initial budget draft does not appear on the approved capital list,

considered difficult to budget for because approvals are dependent on permits not yet issued by the Army Corps of Engineers for next year. Road resurfacing and drainage projects would be funded out of the replacement reserve, while bulkheading replacement and spot dredging that occurs despite its omission from the capital budget would be funded out of the bulkheads and waterways reserve. The balance of the $3.1 million includes capital spending in administration, Public Works, Police, Recreation and Parks, Aquatics, Golf Maintenance, the golf clubhouse, the Beach Club, the Yacht Club and Racquet sports. Targeted for bulkheading replacement are areas in the Pintail Isle section of Ocean Pines, along North Pintail Drive and a parcel that the Public Works Department calls Stacy Park. Initial plans included in the December budget draft were to replace 3,180 linear of bulkheading at a rate of $375 a linear foot and a projected cost of $1,192,500. At the March 7 board meeting, the directors approved a proposal submitted by Fisher Marine for replacement of 3,3330 linear feet of bulkheading, at a cost of $355 per linear foot. The approved project cost is $1,182,150, a savings of about $10,000 from the estimated cost of fewer linear feet of replacement in December. The approved bulkheading budget of $1.4 million allows for additional emeergency replacement this coming year if needed, according to Viola. Fisher Marine was the low bidder for next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budget work, with McGinty Marine and Murtech Marine also submitting bids. Roads slated for resurfacing in 2020-21 include Admiral Avenue, Beach Court, Drawbridge Road, Fossi Grange, Ivanhoe Court, Juneway Court, Raft Road North, Raft Road South, and Weeping Willow Court, totalling the budgeted $324,570, at an estimated cost of $100 per ton, up from $70 a ton in 2018. The budgeted drainage costs include pond improvements ($68,000), swales ($28,375), improvements on Beacon Hill Road ($41,270), Sandyhook Road ($52,960), and Pinehurst Road ($61,970). In addition, the drainage budget includes $100,000 in permitting and engineeing costs, $100,000 for unexpected damage to pipes, $76,000 q

OPA FINANCES

32 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA FINANCES

March 2020

Capital budget From Page 31 for mobilization and stake-out costs, and $83,000 in contingencies. Colby Phillips, amenities and logistical operations director, has been working with county officials in an effort to obtain grant funds to supplement what the OPA would spend on its own to improve drainage in the Beacon Hill-Sandyhook-Pinehurst areas that are well known for drainage problems. Phillips appeared at the February meeting of the Board of Directors to update the community on the drainage programs and prospects for outside funding. The outlook seems to be positive. Other capital expenditures approved for funding in 2020-21 include $110,000 for a tractor to be used for ditch maintenance, $65,000

for concrete sidewalks in the Manklin Creek Road Racquet Sports Complex, $50,000 to refurbish Robin Hook Park in the far South Side, $47,625 for Bainbridge Park playground equipment, $40,000 for an awning on the back of the new golf clubhouse, $37,000 for a new police department vehicle, $34,628 to resurface the Administration Building parking lot, $23,000 for two zero-trim mowers, and $18,000 for new pool furniture. The approved capital spending list includes $15,000 to refurbish the baseball field on the South Side, $15,000 to rebuild greens on the Ocean Pines golf course, $15,000 for tablets at the Beach Club, and $14,675 for a new double door convection oven at the Yacht Club In addition, the list includes $9,000 for a new North Gate pond fountain, $9,000 to move bocci

courts from White Horse Parks to the racquet complex, $8,326 for new hollow metal doors for the pump room at the Beach Club pool, $8,000 each for splash pad refurbishments at the Swim and Racquet Club and Mumford’s pools, $7,000 for handicap stairs the Swim and Racquet Club (2021), and $7,000 for a wedding photo booth at the Yacht Club. Initially proposed were $10,000 for a sound system and $25,000 for new tables and chairs for the new golf clubhouse, but those items were moved into the current fiscal year on the recommendation of the Budget and Finance Committee. The thought here was that these items could be paid for this year out of the $1.6 million budget for the new clubhouse because they are needed before the new facility opens this spring. That same logic applied to

Board to reduce capitalization threshold Departments will no longer incur capital expenses in the $2000 to $5000 range By TOM STAUSS Publisher revision to Resolution F-03 that governs the Ocean Pines Association’s financial reserve accounts was introduced on first reading at the Board of Directors’ March 7 monthly meeting by President Doug Parks. The revision would reduce the dollar value of assets that need to be tracked on the OPA’s list of depreciable holdings from $5,000 to $2,000. The revision means that new assets purchased at a cost under $2,000 will continue to be treated as operating expenses, while assets that cost between $2,000 and $5,000 will no longer be treated that way. They will be added to the list of trackable assets whose costs are paid for out of the OPA’s replacement reserve account, the same as replacement assets costing more than $5,000 have been. The change means there will be an increase in the number of trackable assets on the list of depreciable items. “Anytime a purchase is made under $5,000, it’s had an effect on operations,” OPA Director and Treasurer Larry Perrone said. The practical effect of the pending change is that certain replacement items that had been charged to operations will no longer be treated that way, which should positively help the bottom line of those departments with replacement purchases in the $2,000 to $5,000 range. The proposed revision has the support of the Budget and Finance Advisory Committee and General Manager John Viola, Perrone said. It will need to be approved by the board after a second reading before it is enshrined as official OPA fi-

nancial management policy. The last time the OPA changed the capitalization threshold was at the Sept. 29, 2019, board meeting, when then Director and OPA Treasurer Pat Supik offered a motion to increase the asset capitalization threshold from $1,000 to $5,000 for Ocean Pines’ acquisitions. The threshold at which property acquisitions were capitalized had been set at $1,000 for more than 12 years prior to that meeting. Supik’s motion was approved by the board with no dissent. Supik had said a low threshold for capitalization greatly increases the number of assets that must be accounted for and subsequently tracked on the asset list. Given the number of purchases made in the $1,000 to $5,000 range, this greatly increases the asset list, making tracking and accounting for all assets difficult and subject to error, she said. The change also had the effect of increasing the number of items that for accounting purposes were considered operating expenses that subsequently had to be charged directly to the affected departments. According to Supik, DMA, the firm engaged at the time to complete an Ocean Pines reserve study, which essentially is an updated list of assets, recommended increasing the limit for capitalization to at least $2,000. However, most companies the size of the OPA use $5,000, she said. Both audit firms the OPA had used prior to September of 2017 had recommended increasing the threshold, with their recommendation being $5,000, she said.

$40,000 in new cabinets, shelves and a pro shop counter that had been included in the initial budget draft in December. The photo booth at the Yacht Club was questioned by some members of the budget and finance committee, but it was one of the top priority items recommended by the Matt Ortt Companies as a way of enhancing the wedding business at the Yacht Club. It survived the budget process. Added in the Jan. 15 version of the capital budget was $100,000 to be transfered into the New Capital Reserve for a future Sports Core training/party room addition. As it’s not a scheduled actual expenditure for next year, however, it’s inclusion in the approved capital summary was done as a way to be fully transparent, according to General Manager John Viola.

Perrone says OPA investments remain secure despite market volatility

cean Pines Treasurer Larry Perrone in a mid-March statement said the Association’s investments are safe, despite the recent stock market downtown because of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) fears. “With the downturn in the stock market, as the CFO I wanted to ensure the Ocean Pines membership that our reserves and operating cash is not being affected,” Perrone said. “As has been reported at each Board meeting, our cash reserves and operating accounts are conservatively invested.” Perrone said Ocean Pines has approximately $5 million invested in money market accounts and $4.8 million in CDARs, both of which are insured. The operating account has an additional $1 million. “Ocean Pines has no money invested in the stock or bond markets,” Perrone said. “While our average rate of return has been about 2.5%, I fully expect with the Federal Reserve’s lowering of the prime interest rate, it will be difficult for us to maintain that interest income. “However, in times like this with the volatility of the stock market, the Association’s philosophy of extreme conservatism with regard to our cash investments has proven to be a wise policy,” Perrone added.

March 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Costello retires after more than two decades with Public Works

By JOSH DAVIS Special to the Progress

ongtime Ocean Pines Public Works supervisor Joe Costello officially retired earlier this month … again. During a luncheon on Feb. 21, Public Works Director Eddie Wells said he was glad everyone could gather to honor Costello, not to say “goodbye,” but to congratulate him ... for the third time. “I’ve already left the invitation out – if he wants to come back and help us, he’s more than welcome,” Wells said. Costello originally retired while living in Philadelphia more than 20 years ago, and then retired again about nine years ago in Ocean Pines. “Sitting down with the General Manager at the time – I think it was Tom Olson – he said, ‘No, no, you can’t retire.’ So, we came to an agreement,” Costello said of retirement number two. “I stayed on two days a week, and that way I could enjoy my leisure and fish a little bit, and still come back and work with the guys. And I really enjoyed that.” The retirement luncheon included a special appearance by Costello’s two granddaughters, Taylor and Madison, who hid in a small storage shed until he arrived. There were many smiles, hugs and kisses – and maybe even a few tears – when he realized the surprise. “It was absolutely amazing,” Costello said. “I love them to death and to see them, with their schedules, was incredible.” Madison has been away at college studying to be a veterinarian, and Taylor lives and works in Philadelphia, he said. “We have a hard time seeing each other, but we see each other around the holidays. For them to show up and come out of that storage bin was absolutely amazing,” he said. Costello was born in Philadelphia and spent much of his life there. After high school, in 1959, he enlisted in the Air Force and trained

thThe whole second level and the kitchen area was totally replaced, and we replaced all the downstairs kitchens and a lot of the flooring, and we replaced the bar on two different occasions,” Costello continued. “There was a tremendous amount of repairs and so forth that was done to the Yacht Club that a lot of people aren’t aware of today.” Public Works, under Costello, also expanded the Yacht Club pool decking and built a new bathhouse. “We just did extensive work all over the Pines. I give the guys a lot of credit,” he said. “We had a lot of pressure and a lot of stress at times, but overall it’s a great bunch of guys.” Costello has worn a lot of hats – from radar tech to master plumber to supervisor – but perhaps the most interesting is how he learned to be a craftsman and a builder. “My dad had major heart problems in his early 50s, and he passed away in 1969,” he said. “Well, my dad’s best friend was a major craftsman named John Spear, and they were very close. So, when my dad knew he was getting close to passing away, he told mom that, ‘When I leave here, you marry Jack.’” Granddaughters Taylor, center, and Madison surprise Joe Costello during a Feb. 21 reSpear fought in World War tirement luncheon. II and was highly decorated, as a radar technician for about two here full time, a year later. At first, Costello said. A brick in the Worcester he did part-time maintenance jobs County Veterans Memorial in Ocean years. “I went in on the F-89 Scorpion, for local real estate agents, often Pines honors his service. “He had more awards than which was a light bomber, but then working on call. “It was nice, but it wasn’t nice,” almost anybody I’ve ever known,” they phased that out,” he said. When he said. “He built a lot of the bridges he learned an Air National Guard he said of the odd hours. Then, when a job came up as a that crossed the Rhine [region of unit based out of Philadelphia would inherit some of those planes, general maintenance supervisor Germany], and he would come out as Costello joined the unit and served for Ocean Pines Public Works, he a carpenter and master craftsman. jumped at the chance. He could build anything with just until his discharge in 1964. “When I came on, there was a lot a file and a plane. That’s where I Afterward, he tried to find work as a radar tech, but found virtually of items that had to be brought up picked it up, and it’s very enjoyable. “He was a fantastic guy. And that everyone required extensive on-the- to date in Ocean Pines,” Costello said. “I think one of the first projects was his first marriage – marrying job experience. “I tried many businesses where we did was replace the whole main my mom – at probably 67 years old,” electronics was a big thing in the walkway of the marina – tore it he added. Recently, Costello relied on that early 60s, and I scored very well on down to scratch and started all over experience to construct a large all the tests, but everybody wanted again.” Costello and Public Works also model boat display case at the Ocean five years’ experience. I won’t tell you what my last statement was to redid the decking around the old Pines Yacht Club, and to build the the last place,” Costello said with a Yacht Club, as well as the tiki bar interiors for the new Pine’eer Craft area, and then worked to rehab the Club building. laugh. “The craft building was bare Instead, he enrolled in a building itself. “Eventually, we even tore out the walls with a concrete floor,” he said, plumbing apprenticeship program in Philadelphia and spent nearly interior of the existing Yacht Club,” adding an independent contractor two decades in that field. Costello he said. “The Yacht Club had settled later installed flooring. “I sat down then moved into management and down about 4 inches on one end, so multiple times with the people from worked as an estimator, from 1981- we initially started to try and stop the craft shop to get ideas about what it – to secure it – and then we had to they wanted to do, and what they 1998. He started building a home in go to outside contractors and work wanted to hold and save and reuse Ocean Pines around 1997 and moved with them to bring it back up.

LIFESTYLES

34 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

LIFESTYLES

March 2020

Joe Costello From Page 33 [from the old shop], which basically amounted to next to nothing.” Costello built three three-tier floor shelves from scratch, as well as cabinetry, glass shelving in the windows, a large desk, and more shelving in the storage room. he Craft Club paid for the

materials. “We did salvage the inside corner shelving that they use, plus all the slat board that’s on the walls that holds all the brackets – that was all done by myself and Public Works,” he said. Costello, in retiring now for the third time, said this one will stick. Probably. “It’s just to a point where I need a reverse shoulder replacement on my

right and the left one’s acting up, and my back has been hurting for a long time. It’s just about that time,” he said. His first action as a newly retired man will be a trip to Florida to visit his daughter. As for his plans after that? “That’s a good question!” Costello said. “I’ve been so busy my whole life, a lot of people ask me that same question.”

He joked that his wife, Mary, suggested a few rooms that need painting. “I fish a lot and I enjoy that, so that’ll be part of it. It’s going to be interesting,” he said. “If I’m not working out of the shop, I’m spending the day fishing or something like that, and there’s always plenty to do around the house. Between the outside and the wood pines and trees and leaves and everything, it keeps you busy.”

He joked that his wife, Mary, He joked that his wife, Mary, suggested

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March 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Hearn says Cove association will have ‘negative year’ because of Corona outbreak

Limited operations could resume this summer but it depends on the ‘virus curve’ By TOM STAUSS Publisher aptain’s Cove association President Tim Hearn isn’t sugarcoating the effect amenity closures related to the Corona virus containment effort will have on operations and finances this summer. The Marina Club and golf course were closed to Cove property owners in mid-March, with Hearn posting a detailed explanation on the member Web site. In a March 18 telephone interview with the Progress, Hearn wasn’t all doom and gloom. He said that if there are indications that a “a flattening of the virus” is occurring with the advent of warmer weather, there could be some relief to the closures. Currently there is no assurance that the comnunity’s two outdoor pools will open in May as normally occurs. The Marina Club indoor pool is closed with the rest of that facility. “It is difficult to determine the ultimate length of time these temporary closures will be in place; the time frame for the improvements to occur in Japan and South Korea took about two months for the “flattening of the virus curve” to take hold,” Hearn said in his message posted on the Cove Web site. He said that the U.S. is in the early weeks of that two-month window, “but we have the benefit of rising outside temperatures occurring on a weekly basis. Time will tell if the actions which the Captain’s Cove community and other organizations on the Eastern Shore are implementing can lessen the risk of wide-spread outbreak and health care crisis in our community.” He said that staff leadership and the Board of Directors will be monitoring the public health recommendations to determine when these temporary closures can be removed for each of the amenities. During a March 20 special board meeting, Hearn said limited food delivery service could begin in July, depending on conditions. In his Progress interview, Hearn said that “top line revenues” of $125,000 in golf operations and

$800,000 in food and beverage operations are at risk from continued closures. That includes about $200,000 in wedding banquets and special events, he said. The food and beverage operations were on a path to produce $125,000 in net revenues, and that, too, is in jeopardy. He held out the hope that deliveries from the Marina Club restaurant

this summer could provide limited food and beverage service to residents if full dine-in service doesn’t resume, and he didn’t seem optimistic that it would. Hearn said the Cove would actually benefit financially by not operating at all this summer when compared to the delivery service option, but he added that if conditions allow deliv-

Board elects Hearn to Cove presidency Road paving complete in Sections 12 and 13

s expected, the Captain’s Cove association’s Board of Directors elected Tim Hearn to the board presidency, following the recent resignation of Jim Silfee for personal reasons. Silfee remains on the board, but Hearn retakes the position he held for six years before voluntarily relinquishing the position last fall. Hearn’s election was by unanimous vote of the board at a March 20 special meeting, in which Pat Pelino was elected secretary, replacing Hearn in that position. In other developments during the March 20 meeting: • Silfee announced that road paving in Sections 12 and 13 are now complete. • The board voted to accept the 2018-19 audit report without the usual presentation by the auditing firm, TGM of Salisbury. • Despite the closure of the Marina Club and golf course, Hearn said a decision has been made to rent out the Marina Club boat slips as usual, unless government prohbits it. “It’s going to be a big fishing year,” Hearn quipped. • General Manager Justin Wilder said a decision has been made to delay hiring a new Web site vendor, with Corona-induced amenity closures likely to have an adverse impact on the Cove’s finances. • A decision to select from four bids ranging in cost from $90,000 to $100,000 to replace Marine Club HVAC equipment similarly has been delayed at least three months for the same reason. • Hearn said he expects Broadband Connections will request a delay in the 90-day window in which the firm was supposed to begin laying fiber optic cable in Captain’s Cove. A May 1 start probably won’t happen because it’s difficult to secure financing package in today’s climate and Accomack County probably won’t allow contractors to “pull permits,” Hearn said. • In response to a question from a property owner, Hearn said no relief in the annual lot assessment could be granted because security, facility maintenance and the services of a general manager still are needed despite the shutdown of key amenities. • The Board agreed not to hold a scheduled meeting in April, with Hearn saying that a meeting could be set in May or June depending on agenda development and the the status of Conoa containmnent efforts on the Lower Eastern Shore.

ery service, he believes the board would approve it whatever the cost to the food and beverage bottom line. “It would be expected by the membership, and understandably so,” Hearn said. In comments during the March 20 special meeting of the board, Hearn detailed the impact of the amenity closures on Billy Casper Golf staff who work in Captain’s Cove. Only seven of 23 employees will be retained during the shutown, Hearn said, two salaried and five hourly. BCG is offering furloughs to some of the laid-off employees, while others will be leaving BCG’s employ to take jobs in distribution or other professions that are doing well in the currently challenged economy. In his published text, Hearn defended what he has said is a very conservative approach to the Corona crisis. “While at present, there have been no reported incidents of Covid 19 among the staff or population of Captain’s Cove, that is a situation which is changing daily in communities throughout the region. Significant increases are expected by public health officials, he said. Hearn said there are “three significant challenges which confront Captain’s Cove when assessing he potential impact of the virus. • While the community is operated as a resort community, the population of the community has a greater percentage of individuals above 60 years old then the regional population in general. Public health officials have determined that this population is at disproportionate risk for serious impact and greater challenges in recovery. • With the community being a resort community, there is a greater level of travel which occurs, with individuals arriving for weekend and vacation visits from other areas of the region. • A limited number of hospital beds serve the seven counties of the Maryland and Virginia Eastern Shore. With 500 hospital beds spread among the four hospitals, the average daily census trends towards the 70 percent range on a typical day, this only leaving about 150 beds of capacity... It would only take one outbreak at a nursing home or assisted living facility in this region to push the capacity levels in this region to crisis levels,” he said.

36 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

March 2020

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OPINION

March 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA’S handling of Corona virus: Inevitable ith local schools, churches, and restaurants closing in response to the Corona virus, and a government edict, it was inevitable that the Ocean Pines Association would close its pool and recreation facilities to the membership. Whether this action will actually do much to stop the spread of a virus, whose effects on most people who catch it are mild to nonexistent, remains to be seen. As of March 19, there was one reported Corona case in Worcester County, a 37-year-old recovering at home in Snow Hill. Presumably, it’s a mild case like most of them are, except for the elderly with compromised immune systems. The governor ordered the closure of all restaurants in the state on March 16, a step designed to mitigate the spread of the virus, so the Ocean Pines Yacht Club restaurant will, of course, be closed for a period of time. The on-top-of-things crew who run the Matt Ortt Companies immediately decided to introduce a free delivery service, which launched March 18. Tips given to the drivers, who are members of the MOC management team, will be distributed to the hourly staff laid off because of the state-wide lockdown. That’s a class act by MOC, and Ocean Pines residents who use the delivery service should tip generously. There is no guarantee let alone likelihood that Ocean Pines facilities that have been closed will reopen after an initial two-week lockdown. At least the Ocean Pines golf course remains open for play, with a few measures in place to discourage the spread of the Corona virus. One observation: Residents who shop at local supermarkets really need to chill. There is no shortage of food, and a Cat 5 hurricane is not about to descend. Stocking up -hoarding is the better word -- really needs to stop. The run on toilet paper, paper towels and hand sanitizers may be somewhat understandable, but it doesn’t put us locals in the most favorable light. Kudos to those who have resisted the impulse to hoard. The only discordant note in the early days of the OPA’s response to the Corona virus was an emergency

Viola, of course, was not invited to the meeting as his contract with the OPA was the subject matter of the An excursion through the curious cul-de-sacs An excursion through theby-ways curious and by-ways and cul-de-sacs contract. of Worcester County’s County’s most densely community. of Worcester mostpopulated densely populated community. Horn insists that no emergency By TOM STAUSS/ By TOM Publisher STAUSS/Publisher chart was passed around during the meeting, and there’s no reason to organizational chart that was dis- Association Act when it then took up doubt her word. It also doesn’t matcussed at an executive session of the another matter not disclosed to the ter much whether it was or wasn’t, board of directors March 7. The only membership prior to the executive because the subject of the chart was announced purpose of that execu- session. discussed according to two directors, tive session was to deal with a minor Board secretary Colette Horn, Frank Daly and Steve Tuttle. clerical issue having to do with Gen- who really should have known betA possibility is that Horn drafteral Manager John Viola’s employ- ter, began a discussion on how the ed a proposed draft of an emergenment contract. To stay in compliance OPA would manage itself in the hy- cy chart and used it as a basis for a with both the letter and spirit of the pothetical, not very likely scenario, conversation with her colleagues in Maryland Homeowner Association of Viola going down for an extend- closed session. Who knows. Because Act, the directors should have ad- ed period from the Corona virus. A Horn has been reluctant to acknowljourned once that single, announced proposed emergency organizational edge that the topic was discussed issue was satisfactorily addressed. chart may have been present at the in the meeting, she may not be the It was, by the way: The contract meeting; there seems to be some dis- most likely source of any additional now explicitly allows the board to agreement or differing recollections illumination on the matter. give John Viola a merit increase or about that. Perhaps understandably, Viola bonus in addition to the $5,000 reViola told the Progress that he declined a Progress request for a tention bonuses already in the con- had not circulated the emergency copy of the document because, he tract. Once a performance review is chart to the board and staff until said, it would confuse the memberconducted in an executive session days after the board meeting. He ship. As he knows as well as anyone, following the board’s April meeting, seemed genuinely perplexed about in Ocean Pines it really isn’t possiViola will be explicitly eligible for how the board could have reviewed ble to keep things a secret. And he some sort of reward for his exempla- and commented on the emergency shared it with the board and staff, so ry performance to date. chart when he hadn’t distributed it there’s all sorts of ways its content The board violated the letter and before the meeting to board mem- could be circulating in Ocean Pines spirit of the Maryland Homeowner bers.

LIFE IN THE LIFE INPINES THE PINES

One discordant note: a ‘confusing’ emergency organization chart that needs some tweaking

38 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPINION

March 2020

COMMENTARY Viola should decline a merit pay increase or bonus

ome observant Ocean Pines Association members may have noted that the Board of Directors recently voted to amend General Manager John Viola’s contract to allow for a merit increase in his $155,000 annual salary after a performance review next month. Viola last received a raise in December, when he signed a two-and-a-half year contract that included three $5,000 bonuses on anniversary dates of the contract signing. Those bonuses effectively mean he’s making $160,000 per year, quite generous when compared to other government officials on the Eastern Shore. The reason the board met in closed session March 7 was the apparent oversight in failing to include in Viola’s contract explicit authority to give him a merit increase or bonus. It is certainly understandable if some board members would like to reward Viola for his steady and effective leadership. He’s probably the best GM this association has ever had, bar none. Be that as it may, the OPA budget for the new fiscal year beginning May 1 may be affected in a big way by Carona. Will pools be allowed to open? Will the moratorium on dining and bar operations at OPA food and bar venues be lift-

Life in the Pines From Page 38 a lot faster than the Corona virus. Viola is right; this document might very well confuse the membership because it doesn’t track with the recently adopted organizational chart for the OPA. Beyond understandable confusion, it might also alarm and annoy the membership because of the way Amenities and Logistical Operations Director Colby Phillips is designated in the chart. Viola did say his emergency succession plan in the event of his extended absence designates Finance and Logistical Operations Director Steve Phillips and Executive Assistant Michelle Bennett as the two individuals at the top of the OPA leader board. That’s not all that shocking or alarming in and of itself. If he’s holed up in a hospital bed or in a cave in Tibet practicing the latest techniques in social distancing, he might want to stay in touch with associates in Ocean Pines. It makes sense he would want to stay in touch with only one or two individuals in his absence. Where the emergency chart re-

ed? How will hourly and seasonal employees of the OPA be affected if the summer crowds that normally flock to Ocean Pines and nearby Ocean City fail to materialize? These questions are unanswerable in March, but suffice it to say that the good financial times the OPA has been experiencing in the Viola era so far are not guaranteed this summer. Indeed other than mandated minimum-wage increases, the board should consider freezing all salaries at current levels until there is greater clarity about the Corona virus and its effect on operations in the coming months. Before giving the guy at the top of the pyramid a raise, consideration must be given to the rank and file employees whose hours of employment will be cut back because of Corona-induced closures. Those cut-backs will be experienced immediately and will cause pain. It doesn’t seem right to be giving raises or bonuses to salaried executives while hourly folks on the front lines are suffering. Moreover, there are some inequities in the compensation structure for OPA’s top managers that need to be rectified before the guy at the top is rewarded. According to a list of salaries obtained by the

ally goes off the rails is the designation of Director of Golf John Malinowski as the individual in charge of amenities, which is odd for a couple of reasons. The first obvious one is that Colby Phillips is currently the Amenities Director with a rather expansive additional portfolio in “logistical operations” -a rather obfuscatory phrase that in her case covers a lot of additional duties. The second reason is that Malinowksi is a very well regarded golf pro without any experience in running amenities other than golf. Let’s keep him focused in the area where he excels. Even stranger is that Colby Phillips reportedly appears in a box under Malinowki, which should strike anyone as just wrong. If Horn had anything to do with this structure, why would she do this? It makes no sense, as Frank Daly told the Progress recently. Is Horn one of the directors who reportedly has a problem with the fact that Colby doesn’t have a college degree? Daly is right on when he says that it doesn’t really matter whether she does or doesn’t. Experience in running departments, ability to communicate, success when given tasks to accom-

Progress, the Director of Finance and Operational Logistics makes $110,500 per year, while the Director of Amenities and Operational Logistics makes $83,000. The Superintendent of Golf Maintenance makes $77,647 per year, while the Public Works Director makes $69,281 per year. The two percent increase in compensation alloted in the approved 2020-21 budget should first be used to remedy these disparities and others that may exist at the department head level and below. That was the purpose of the compensation study, after all. Even with these concerns and considerations, it’s very possible that a majority of directors will vote to give the GM a bonus or raise when they meet next month for his performance review. If that’s the way it unfolds, Viola has every right to assess the situation and voluntarily agree to waive any financial reward until December of this year, the one year anniversary of his latest raise, and well after the Corona virus should be a spent force and its financial impact on the budget more clear. Or he could donate to a worthy cause. It would be a class act and would go over well with the troops. -- Tom Stauss

plish -- that’s the true measure of whether someone is truly capable of succeeding Viola as general manager whenever he decides he’s ready to retire to that Tibetan cave full time. Viola is within his rights to designate the top line individuals he wants as his point persons if he’s out of commission for a few weeks, but the boxes under that structure need revision. Viola has said the boxes can be moved around, and he should be encouraged to do that or get rid of the boxes altogether. A sensible alternative emergency chart would have Steve Phillips and Colby Phillips as the two invididuals at the top of the chart, as befits their operational areas of concentration. Chief of Police Massey could share equal billing on the top line, reflecting the exigencies of state law. This was more or less the structure in place in the months following the departure of the former general manager, John Bailey, when Viola was serving in an interim role as acting general manager. The two Phillipses organizationally were on a par with one another. They still are, both with “logistical operations” in their titles. There is no reason both the official and emergency organizational

charts shouldn’t reflect this same essential operational equality between Colby, Steve, and, parenthetically, Chief Massey. If it’s good enough for normal conditions, it should also work well enough when there’s an emergency.

The Ocean Pines Progress, a journal of news and commentary, is published monthly throughout the year. It is circulated in Ocean Pines, Berlin, Ocean City, and Captain’s Cove, Va. 127 Nottingham Lane Ocean Pines, MD 21811

PUBLISHER/EDITOR Tom Stauss stausstom@gmail.com 443-359-7527

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